AMIRI CAFE — Restaurant in Melbourne

It's so true! When you find yourself going back to the same cafe multiple times in a week, you just know it's something special. Amiri Cafe definitely cast that spell on us recently, and for all the best reasons.

Nestled right in the bustling heart of the CBD within QV Mall, Amiri is such a gem. What's fantastic is that they're open from morning till night, catering to all sorts of cravings. Their brunch menu is a real standout – a brilliant and unique fusion of Asian flavors with those classic Melbourne breakfast staples. Beyond brunch, they also offer a tempting array of smaller dishes, and oh my goodness, their cakes! They strike that perfect balance of not being overly sweet, with a wonderfully soft and delicate texture. And let's not forget their drinks menu, which has a nice variety to choose from.

Honestly, the San Sebastian cheesecake alone is worth a visit – so creamy and decadent! Plus, their matcha is spot on, and who can resist a bit of their soft serve? The list really does go on! We were initially drawn in by the buzz on social media and its super convenient location, but it was the exceptional quality of both the service and the food that truly won us over. The interior is also just beautiful and surprisingly spacious, creating a really lovely overall vibe. We've now visited for brunch, a soft serve treat, and even a late-night dessert on three separate occasions, and honestly, each experience has been fantastic. If you're looking for a reliable spot with delicious food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere, Amiri Cafe is definitely one...

Dining at this café is a mixed experience. I’ve visited four or five times, drawn by the unique menu and visually appealing venue, but each visit has unfortunately been underwhelming.

The setup is unusual, with minimal staff interaction. It feels like a middle ground between a minimalist mall café and a ghost kitchen, which might be intentional, though it can come across as impersonal. The food and drinks are beautifully presented—undeniably Instagram-worthy—but the flavors unfortunately don’t match the aesthetics. Even the best item I’ve tried was just “okay,” comparable to a similar cake slice from 7-eleven.

For the price, I expected a lot more in terms of taste. Our group ordered three cake slices, three milk drinks, and a serving of potato gems to share—nothing extravagant—and the total came to $113. While the location may justify higher prices, the cost here is steeper than any other café in QV, while the flavours are less impressive. Unless you're visiting primarily for the visuals, you can find tastier and more affordable similar options nearby, such as at Breadtop downstairs.

The interior design is minimalist and neutral-toned, which some might find sleek, though to me, it does feel sterile—almost like a cozy hospital. Overall, this café has truly gorgeous food presentation but falls short on flavor and value. While I don’t hate it, and I might even return at some point, I’d recommend it mainly to those seeking aesthetically pleasing treats rather than a good...

We came to Amiri after a dinner because we wanted to check out a new dessert place instead of reverting to one we always go to. I’m so glad we did, the vibes are amazing and the place itself has such a clean aesthetic.

We ordered: Iced Hojicha with less ice ($8.9) - I wasn’t expecting the glass to be less full than the other glass but I guess it makes sense because I ordered less ice, but still it was a bit funny. The hojicha was comparable to Tori’s, aka it was GOOD hojicha. Iced Matcha ($8.9) - The matcha was a bit on the bitter side which is how I like my matcha but my friend who had ordered it wished it was a bit sweeter. I would say if you like Tori’s matcha you’ll like this one, it’s similar but Tori’s one is stronger in flavour. Lychee Yuzu Bingsu ($24.9) - We weren’t expecting to like as much as we did. We weren’t familiar with lychee and yuzu in a bingsu form so we weren’t sure how it would be. It was really good, it reminded us of sprite in the best way possible. It wasn’t creamy because it’s not milk based but it was super refreshing. It came with lychee pieces and jelly as well.

We will definitely be back to try some of there other items. I saw that they have a lot of savouries as well as cakes and pastries which I am very keen to...